By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
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ADDIS ABABA, 29 October 2026 Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced that his country has taken delivery of 12 Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets and will also receive four S-400 air defence system batteries.
Abiy made the announcement on Wednesday, while in Moscow attending the two-day Russia-Africa summit.
“In accordance with our prior agreement with the Russian government, we have today taken delivery of the first twelve Su-35 4++ Generation fighter jets,” Abiy said, adding that Ethiopia will also receive four S-400 batteries.
The prime minister thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as his friend, for his efforts in ensuring the aircraft were delivered a year ahead of the agreed schedule.
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Abiy said the new equipment strengthens Ethiopia’s ability to preemptively deter aggression and that by acquiring the jets, Ethiopia has taken the lead among Sub-Saharan African nations.
In a second post the same day, he said the jets had been deployed and would defend Ethiopia’s airspace.
Ethiopia has long relied on Russian aircraft. Data compiled by Risk Book shows that Russia was Ethiopia’s largest supplier of major arms between 2016 and 2025, accounting for 43% of deliveries, followed by Ukraine with 25%. Aircraft made up 34% of Ethiopia’s major arms imports during that period.
The announcement comes amid growing security concerns in the Horn of Africa. Some regional media outlets have linked the acquisition to tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea and renewed instability in the Tigray region.